McGuinness returned to the Ulster SFC in spectacular fashion last Saturday, as his Donegal side ransacked Celtic Park, dethroning the reigning provincial and league champions Derry.
It marked a stunning turnaround from a turbulent 2023, when Donegal were relegated from Division 1, dumped out of the province by Down and eventually soundly beaten by Tyrone in the preliminary quarter-final.
On his return to the post in December, reports abounded that the 2012 All-Ireland winning manager was planning on building an eight-metre perimeter fence around Donegal's training pitch at the Convoy centre of excellence.
For McCluskey, the story typified the spirit that McGuinness had instituted early in his second stint.
"I read an interview with John Terry during the week and he said that Mourinho liked for his sides to build a wall of them against the world.
"I believe he (McGuinness) has done that straight away in Donegal.
"We heard rumours of him putting up a fence around the Donegal training camp. Doing stuff like that to really enclose and get that mentality of us against the world.
"There's not too much coming out of Donegal. The best sides, when they're in their pomp, you don't hear too much about them.
"He's captured that spirit of Donegal again."
McGuinness lost one Ulster SFC game during his now legendary four-year stint in charge between the 2011 and 2014 - that being the 2013 provincial final loss to Monaghan.
While Donegal were perceived to have retreated from the top table last summer, his return has sparked the realisation that the county still has the raw material to contend.
"We know - and we knew - that they have talented players. You just have to look through their squad to see the quality there. He has revitalised that group of players.
"If you look at last year and compare where they were then to now, he's made massive strides in a short period of time.
"We knew he was going to work on their fitness, we knew he was going to raise standards.
"But now it looks like he's brought that psychological warfare that any side needs if they're going to attack any type of championship game, let alone the Ulster championship."
This Sunday, they face Tyrone in a hotly anticipated semi-final - Brian Dooher's side having eventually seen off Cavan in extra-time last weekend.
For McCluskey, however, the venue is an issue.
"I think it's crazy the game is in Celtic Park. The scramble for tickets, we're all talking about that here in Ulster. It's a hot ticket.
"Celtic Park holds about 15,000. We're trying to promote our games. These are the key moments in your summer. You want big crowds at the games."
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